Improvement in carriage-axles



A. E. SMITH. CARRIAGE AXLE.

Patented Oct. 19, 1869.

Il H

initrd gime' @een eine- Leners Parent No. 96,043, dated cembalo, 1869.

IMPRGVBMENT IN' CARRIAGE-Anne. i

The Schedule referred to ln the" Letters-Patent and 'making part of the lame.

To all whom it nza/y concern:

, Be it known that I, ALFRED E. SMITH, of Bronx- `ville, Westchester county, and State of New York,

have invented certair new and useful Improvements in" the Manufacture of Axles, in combi-nation with case #hardened malleable-iron collars or ferrules, as bearing-surfaces for the axle to run on,for'use of wagons and other vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description of the same.

vThe first object of my invention is to make an axle of steel, (though goed wrought-iron may answer,) for. the purpose of obtaining lightness with strength.

As toughness of metal is the main requisite of an axle, it follows, as a 'matter of course, that the metal must be left untcmpered and soft, and consequently 4soon wears untrue in a case-hardened metal box, because the wear on an axleis constant, and always on the lower side of it. Therefore,

vThe second object of my invention is to make an axle with case-hardened bearing-surfaces in combination therewith, `and thus obtain the strength and toughness' of steel axles,; with the hardnessl f the highest-tempered metal, as a wearing-surface, to give strength` and durability of wear'to the axle.; and The nature of 'my invention consists in combining, with the spindle of an axle, oaseharden'ed malleable cast-iron fer-rules', for the purpose ot forminga compound axle, for wagons and other vehicles, composed of tough untempered metal, and case-hardened iron, malleable metal; whereby a great improvement is obtained overall other axles, for like purposes, ever be' fore made. But, to describe my invention more particularly, Iv will refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, thesame letters of reference, wherever theyoccur, referring to like parts.

,Figure 1 is aside view of the spindle of an axle, showing the ferrules secured thereon.

Figure 2 is a cut section of the same. i

Figures 3 and 4 are a side and end view of the fer. rule on the end of the spindle.

Figures 5 and 6 are a side and end view of the ferrule on the heel ofthe spindle.

Letter'A represents the body of the axle. and B, the spindle, on which the wheel rotates.

This axle is made of steel, which is preferred to wrought-iron, because of its greater strength to an equal weight of metal, and therefore is-anfindispensable desideratum-in-all light and fancy wagons and carriages.

To prevent its wearing out,'and, at the same time,

to strengthen it, ferrules of case-hardened malleable iron, Cjand.D,-are fitted upon the heel and point of the spindle. y

A Thatlon the heel is secured from coming oli` by driving upa shoulder of metal, E, on the spindle, against the end of the fel-rule C, while that on the point of the spindle is, in a like manner, prevented from coming off by driving up the end of the spindle against it, though, practically, this is not material, as the nut will always keep` it from-.coming off.

These ferrules 'form the bearingsin the box in 'thel lhubof thewheel, and, as they are case-hardened, will endure for along time before showing the least wear on their lower sides, and when they-do happen to ex' hibit any such defect, the ferrules may,by means of a sharp bite with a monkey-wrench, be'rotated on the spindlefar enough to present a 'new wearing-surface, and thus restore the axle to its original pert'ectionof wearing-qualities.

It will be obvious, also, that the fer-rule at the heel of the spindle, being an independent piece of metal from that'of the spindlewhich it surrounds, acts like a hoop or? reinforce to support and strengthen the spindle `at its weakest point, a's, of course,- it is known to all, in any Way conversant with the use of wagons, or othervehicles, that the spindle never breaks at any other point except at theheelytlierefore, independent of the ferrule as forming a case-hardened bearing for l the wheel to run on, it has the other equally-important meritfof addingstrength to the axle.

It will be obvious, also, that the space bet'ween the ends of the ferrules admits of an abundant application of lubrieatingfmaterial, to keep 'the bearings at all times well oiled. i i

I am aware that untempered. bandsof steel have been shrunk on the. spindles of axles; but as the mere applica-tion of bands to tlrespindle is not thev object of my invention, which. is f or the special purpose of making a. malleable-iron case-hardened bearing-surface, which lis not practicable with steel bands, if

vheated and shrunk on the axle, therefore, I disclaim the use of steel bands on-the spindles'of axles of wagons, and other-vehicles; but

The-combination of the case-hardened,malleableiron ferrules, O and D, with and secured upon the spindle B, substantiallyas described, made and operating vsubstantially as hereinbefore set forth. l

ALFRED E. SMITH. Witnesses: Cuantas L. Bmmcr'r, FmsxLiN Banana'. 

